Multi-bureau credit file freeze and unfreeze

• US 9,256,904 B1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Experian Information Solutions Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Original Assignee: Experian Information Solutions Incorporated (Experian plc)
• Inventors: Haller, Eric, Kent, Kelly
• Primary Examiner(s): OJIAKU, CHIKAODINAKA
• Application Number:
  US12/541,835
• Time in Patent Office: 2,370 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/00 Finance; Insurance; Tax strategies; Processing of corporate or income taxes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof

Abstract

The systems and methods described herein allow consumers to lock or unlock their credit files at multiple credit bureaus in real-time or near real-time. The service may allow a consumer to provide identifying information, such as a personal identifier to lock or unlock credit files at a plurality of credit bureaus over a network. Upon receiving the personal identifier, the system may use the personal identifier to translate the identifier into a plurality of access codes for respective credit bureaus, for example by accessing a data structure, such as a database or table, that stores a personal identifier and access codes that are associated with a consumer. The system may then use the access codes to automatically initiate locking or unlocking of credit files for the consumer at the respective credit bureaus.

Claims

1. A computer system configured to manage access of credit data of a user at each of a plurality of credit bureaus by merchants, wherein the credit data of the user is locked at the plurality of credit bureaus such that the merchant cannot access the credit data without prior authorization from the user, the computer system comprising:

a server including;

one or more hardware processors;

a credit file access component configured for execution by the one or more hardware processors to access credit files stored remotely at multiple credit bureaus; and

a storage device storing;

personal identifiers for a corresponding plurality of users; and

for each personal identifier, at least a first encrypted access code associated with a first of the multiple credit bureaus and a second encrypted access code associated with a second of the multiple credit bureaus; and

a point of sale terminal, remotely located from the server at a merchant facility, the point of sale terminal including;

a credit card reader configured to read credit card information from credit cards of users;

a keypad input device configured to receive personal identifiers from users; and

a communication interface configured to allow the point of sale terminal to communicate an identification of the merchant and personal identifiers provided via the keypad input device by respective users to the server;

wherein the server is configured to, in response to receiving, from the point of sale terminal, a first personal identifier of a first user and the identification of the merchant, automatically perform in substantially real time;

identifying a first encrypted access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

decrypting the first encrypted access code to determine a first access code;

transmitting the first access code to the first credit bureau with a first access request for the first credit bureau to provide the merchant with immediate access to first credit data of the user;

identifying a second encrypted access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

decrypting the second encrypted access code to determine a second access code;

transmitting the second access code to the second credit bureau with a second access request for the second credit bureau to provide the merchant with immediate access to second credit data of the user;

receiving at least one of the first credit data from the first credit bureau and the second credit data from the second credit bureau;

transmitting at least a portion of the received at least one of the first credit data and the second credit data to the point of sale terminal while the user is at the point-of-sale terminal of the merchant.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to request locking of the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau when a predetermined time period from receiving the first credit data has passed.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to request locking of the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau immediately after the first credit bureau transmits the first credit data to the server.

4. A computerized method of managing access of credit data of a user at each of a plurality of credit bureaus by merchants, wherein the credit data of the user is locked at the plurality of credit bureaus such that the merchant cannot access the credit data without prior authorization from the user, the computerized method comprising:

coordinating communication between;

a server including;

one or more hardware processors;

a credit file access component configured for execution by the one or more hardware processors to access credit files stored remotely at multiple credit bureaus;

a storage device storing;

personal identifiers for a corresponding plurality of users; and

for each personal identifier, at least a first encrypted access code associated with a first of the multiple credit bureaus and a second encrypted access code associated with a second of the multiple credit bureaus; and

a point of sale terminal, remotely located from the server at a merchant facility, the point of sale terminal including;

a credit card reader configured to read credit card information from credit cards of users;

a keypad input device configured to receive personal identifiers from users; and

a communication interface configured to allow the point of sale terminal to communicate an identification of the merchant and personal identifiers provided via the keypad input device by respective users to the server;

wherein said coordinating communication comprises;

by the server, in response to receiving, from the point of sale terminal, a first personal identifier of a first user and the identification of the merchant, automatically perform in substantially real time;

identifying a first encrypted access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

decrypting the first encrypted access code to determine a first access code;

transmitting the first access code to the first credit bureau with a first access request for the first credit bureau to provide the merchant with immediate access to first credit data of the user;

identifying a second encrypted access code associated with the first personal identifier in the storage device;

decrypting the second encrypted access code to determine a second access code;

transmitting the second access code to the second credit bureau with a second access request for the second credit bureau to provide the merchant with immediate access to second credit data of the user;

receiving at least one of the first credit data from the first credit bureau and the second credit data from the second credit bureau; and

transmitting at least a portion of the received at least one of the first credit data and the second credit data to the point of sale terminal while the user is at the point-of-sale terminal of the merchant.

5. The computerized method of claim 4, wherein the server is further configured to request locking of the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau when a predetermined time period from receiving the first credit data has passed.

6. The computerized method of claim 4, wherein the server is further configured to request locking of the first credit data of the user at the first credit bureau immediately after the first credit bureau transmits the first credit data to the server.